Three years after his maiden Dakar success, Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Team/ Michelin) finished on top again to earn Michelin’s 36th victory on the cross-country classic, as well as KTM’s 18th on the trot in association with the French tyre firm. The Australian finished clear of his team-mate and last year’s victor Matthias Walkner, while Sam Sunderland (Red Bull KTM Factory Team/Michelin) made it an all-KTM/Michelin top three.

After winning last season’s visit to Marrakech, Mahindra Racing finished on top again this time around thanks to Jérôme d’Ambrosio who was joined on the podium by Envision Virgin Racing’s Robin Frijns and Sam Bird. Antonio Felix da Costa tangled late in the race with his BMW I Andretti Motorsport team-mate while leading, and defending champion Jean-Eric Vergne (Techeetah) span at the race’s first turn.

Formula E’s latest-generation, all-electric, Michelin Pilot Sport-equipped ‘Gen2’ single-seaters were in action this week at Valencia, Spain, where an official test was organised to allow teams to prepare for the 2018/2019 championship’s opening clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 15.

BMW/Michelin claims maiden Formula E success

Round 1 of the 2018/2019 Formula E Championship in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, was won by Antonio Felix da Costa. The Portuguese BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver was joined on the podium by Jean-Eric Vergne (DS Techeetah/Michelin) and Jérôme d’Ambrosio (Mahindra Racing/Michelin).

Formula E’s fifth campaign, which stars a new generation of more powerful single-seater electric cars boasting extended range, kicked off in the streets of Diriyah on Saturday December 15 in wet weather!

Heavy showers forced the organisers to modify the morning’s free practice and qualifying timetable, but da Costa kept his head to score his first pole position in the BMW iFE 18 which, like all the cars, was equipped with the brand new Michelin Pilot Sport.

For its debut, Michelin’s latest-generation Formula E tyre faced an exceptionally broad spectrum of conditions which ranged from extremely wet in qualifying to a drying and dusty track for the race itself.

The Michelin Pilot Sport rose to the challenge in style, though, to showcase its exceptional versatility, performance and longevity from start to finish of the championship’s very first 45-minute race, a new format which no longer includes mid-race car swaps.

Da Costa held his advantage until Lap 14 when he was passed by defending champion Jean-Eric Vergne (DS Techeetah/Michelin). Soon afterwards, he was relegated to third spot by André Lotterer (DS Techeetah/Michelin).

The two DS Techeetah drivers were then handed a drive-through penalty, however, allowing da Costa to recover the lead which he defended to the flag, unfazed by a late safety-car interruption prompted by a suspension problem on the Penske EV-3/Michelin of podium challenger José-Maria Lopez.

Da Costa went on to pocket his second E-Prix win and BMW i Andretti Motorsport/Michelin’s first in the all-electric championship, while Vergne passed d’Ambrosio (Mahindra Racing) in the dying moments to grab second spot.

A number of key decisions were taken at the FIA World Council meeting that was held in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on December 5. Many of them referred to some of the global championships in which Michelin is active, namely the WEC, WRC and Formula E.

After claiming the season’s opener in Qatar, Andrea Dovizioso concluded the 2018 MotoGPTM World Championship with victory in Valencia. The Italian was unfazed when the race was red flagged due to heavy rain and he went on to finish clear of Alex Rins (Team SUZUKI ECSTAR/Michelin) and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing/Michelin).

The N°7 Toyota TS050 Hybrid/Michelin of Conway/Kobayashi/Lopez and the N°8 sister car of Buemi/Alonso/Nakajima collected another one-two finish for the Japanese make in the FIA WEC as torrential rain greeted teams to Shanghai, China. Michelin scored its 50th LM GTE Pro class victory in the championship with the N°95 Aston Martin (Sorensen/Thiim).

The 2018 Rally Australia saw Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia claim their sixth Drivers’ world title and their second with Ford/Michelin. Jari-Matti Latvala earned Toyota Gazoo Racing’s 50th world class victory to make sure of the Manufacturers’ crown with Michelin.